Temporary premises of IIT-Patna hit by waterlogging

Patna, Aug 20 (IANS) The new Indian Institute of Technology-Patna (IIT-P) where classes began on a temporary premises Aug 7, has been hit hard by waterlogging. “It is true, We have been affected by waterlogging for over a week,” said Mantu Sharma, a peon at IIT-P.

Sharma said the roads have been under two to three feet of water for days now.

An official said rainwater has also entered the temporary premises of IIT-P. “Water is everywhere, it is more on the roads, but has also entered inside the institute,” he said.

A faculty member at the institute, who is from outside Bihar, told IANS on condition of anonymity Wednesday that it was tough teaching and living in waterlogged areas.

“It is difficult to leave and enter the campus as the entire locality is submerged,” he said.

All 98 students from various parts of the country, studying in mechanical, electrical and computer engineering streams, have been attending classes from Aug 7 in the temporary campus in the heavily waterlogged areas.

Some of the students have complained to the officials of the institute that they are being exposed to pollution and face health risks due to waterlogging.

Earlier this year, the state’s Science and Technology Department identified a polytechnic, located near the Patliputra colony in Patna as the temporary campus for the IIT-P. The students were provided a hostel at the campus itself.

A few days ago, Minister for Science and Technology Shahid Ali Khan said that the process of land acquisition for a permanent campus of the new IIT-P will soon be underway.

“Around 500 acres near Bihta, about 30 km from here, would be acquired for the permanent campus,” Khan said.

Bihar’s Infrastructure Development Authority (IDA) has already sought money to start the land acquisition process.

“The government is doing everything possible to create infrastructure for the new IIT. The permanent campus will be a reality in the next two to three years,” Khan said.

A few months ago, the government decided to shift the location of the IIT from Sikandrapur on Bihta-Bhojpur road to Amhara on Bihta-Aurangabad Road.

The decision came after an IIT-Roorkee team said the Sikandrapur area was prone to waterlogging.

India currently has seven IITs, with another eight proposed to be set up over the next few years. Of these, six will begin functioning during the current academic session.

Besides Bihar, IITs will be be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.